EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 02-39

RESCHEDULING IN TEN PARISHES THE OCTOBER 5, 2002, PRIMARY ELECTION
FOR OCTOBER 12, 2002, AND THE PERIODS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON
AND ACCEPTING REQUESTS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL BALLOTS

WHEREAS,"in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process and
provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to qualify or
exercise their right to vote, to minimize to whatever degree possible a
person's exposure to danger during declared states of emergency, and to
protect the integrity of the electoral process," the Louisiana Legislature
enacted R.S. 18:401.1 to provide "a procedure for the emergency suspension
or delay and rescheduling of qualifying, absentee voting in person, and
elections";

WHEREAS,Executive Order No. MJF 2002-34 was issued on October 4, 2002, pursuant
to the provisions of R.S. 18:401.1(B), based on the certification of the
secretary of state, in conjunction with the commissioner of elections and
registration, delaying the October 5, 2002, primary election in the parishes of
Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin,
St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Vermilion until such time as may be rescheduled;
and

WHEREAS,on October 7, 2002, the secretary of state, in conjunction with the
commissioner of elections and registration, certified their written
recommendation to the governor that, in the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline,
Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary,
Terrebonne, and Vermilion, the October 5, 2002, primary election be
rescheduled for Saturday, October 12, 2002, absentee voting in person be
reopened for two (2) days, and the period for accepting requests for absentee
voting by mail ballots be extended;

NOW THEREFORE, I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by
virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of
the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1:In accordance with the procedures set forth in R.S. 18:401.1 and/or R.S.
29:724, and on the written recommendation of the secretary of state, in
conjunction with the commissioner of elections and registration, the October
5, 2002, primary election in the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia,
Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and
Vermilion delayed by Executive Order No. MJF 2002-34, issued on October
4, 2002, is rescheduled for Saturday, October 12, 2002, opening at 6:00 a.m.
and closing at 8:00 p.m. Notice of the rescheduling of the October 5, 2002,
primary election shall be given in accordance with R.S. 18:401.1(C).

SECTION 2:Pursuant to the written recommendation of the secretary of state, in
conjunction with the commissioner of elections and registration,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, absentee voting in person in the
parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry,
St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Vermilion for the October 5, 2002,
primary election rescheduled for Saturday, October 12, 2002, shall be
reopened on Tuesday, October 8, 2002, at 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and
Wednesday, October 9, 2002, at 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., concluding on
Wednesday, October 9, 2002, at 4:30 p.m. R.S. 29:724. Notice of the
reopening of absentee voting in person shall be advertised, published and/or
broadcast by all reasonably available means of communication. R.S. 29:724.

SECTION 3:Pursuant to the written recommendation of the secretary of state, in
conjunction with the commissioner of elections and registration,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the period for accepting requests
for absentee voting by mail ballots in the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline,
Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary,
Terrebonne, and Vermilion for the October 5, 2002, primary election
rescheduled for Saturday, October 12, 2002, shall be reopened and/or
extended until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2002. R.S. 29:724. Notice
of the reopening and/or extension of the period for accepting requests for
absentee voting by mail ballots shall be advertised, published and/or
broadcast by all reasonably available means of communication. R.S. 29:724.

SECTION 4:Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if any polling places in the
parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry,
St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Vermilion are destroyed and/or become
unavailable for the October 5, 2002, primary election rescheduled for
Saturday, October 12, 2002, as soon as practicable, the parish clerk of court
in conjunction with the local parish governing authority shall designate
alternate emergency polling places. R.S. 29:724. Notice of the location of
the alternate emergency polling places shall be advertised, published and/or
broadcast by all reasonably available means of communication. R.S. 29:724.

SECTION 5:This Order is effective upon signature.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my
hand officially and caused to be affixed the
Great Seal of the state of Louisiana, at the
Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this
7th day of October, 2002.